How do I install the client software for my MaxPlex4 DVR?

MAX Plex4 Client Software

The MAX Plex4 security DVR, one of our latest
most advanced and most affordable digital surveillance recorders designed for
the consumer market, uses its own client software to manage DVR programming and
camera behavior from a remote location. Just because a DVR is designed to be
super affordable doesn't mean it can't provide great user benefits and freedom
of operation combined with roaming user location.

You can find the latest version of the MAX
Plex4 client software at cctvsupportsite.com
(click here to go to
that site), or you can download a version from the link below (this version
was the latest on 4/29/09):

Installing the MAX Plex4 Client Software

The download software arrives in .zip format so all you'll need to do is
unzip (using whatever program you computer has for that kind of process). Take
note of the folder where the software gets installed.

After you've unzipped the files, go to the folder where the new files reside,
find and than double-click SETUP.EXE and follow the on-screen prompts to finish
installation. If the software finds previous versions on your computer it may
prompt you to remove files. Go ahead and perform the removal process, then start
the SETUP.EXE File again and it will install the latest version of the client
software.

The software installs itself in this location, if you allow the default
selections to control all actions:

C:\Program Files\ControlCenter

If you can't locate it look around for a file called controlcenter.exe, which
is the name of the actual program that runs the MAX PLEX client software. (Note
this name as well as program location and other details may change with future
software versions, so be aware.)

Starting the MAX PLEX4 Client Software & Making an
Initial Connection

After you've located controlcenter.exe, double click it to start the program.
You should see the following image appear:

Use the default user name (SYSTEM) and password (123456) for now. Enter that
information and then click OK. In some computers and workstations the
initialization software may pick up an erroneous indication that your hard disk
drive is full - ignore the message if you see it and continue loading the
software. You should see a screen similar to the figure below.

To make your initial connection, do the following:

1. Click SYSTEM CONFIG.

Before you continue make sure you know your:

IP address

User name or Admin name

Password for the User name or Admin name

2. After you click SYSTEM CONFIG the following screen appears.

3. Click the overlapping blue rectangles icon. The following window will pop
up.

4. Create a name and put it in the REGION field. This is a name you'll use in
the future to help keep multiple settings in easy groups, if you HAVE multiple
connections. I used the name PRIMARY. Click OK when done, and screen will appear
like the following. Icon A represents ADD DEVICE. Icon B represents MODIFY.
(Please don't ask why it looks like a vanilla ice cream bar in mid-strip. No one
knows.) Icon
C represents DELETE. If the icons are greyed out, you need to highlight the
REGION name you made in step 3, and then these icon "color up" to indicate they
are active.

Server: This field needs the IP number of the DVR you want to
contact.

Data Port: Use a default value of 2000 unless you know it is
different for your specific product.

User Name: For now use Admin (make sure to use the upper case
letter A).

Password: The password for the Admin user. Default password for
Admin is 123456 (that may change with firmware upgrades - if it doesn't work
contact our tech support personnel at cctvsupportsite.com for the latest
default password for your firmware version).

When you are ready, click OK.

7. The software will look across the internet and connect to the IP address
you selected. The following screen (or one similar to it, with your DVR specific
information) will appear:

Please note the following facts about this screen.

A - Camera channels at your connection are shown here. If you
double click on these names you can re-name them however you want (ParkingLot,
CashRegister - no spaces allowed, but you get the idea).

B - Status alerts appear in this area. Alarm Type/Device
Name/Channel No./Time tell you what kind, when, where, and why an alarm
condition asserted. The DVR we used for this demonstration is set to detect
motion in a fairly active room (our tech bench area) so as soon as we set a
connection the client software began reporting alarm conditions. MOTION
ALARM followed by STOP MOTION ALARM indicate the camera saw movement, then
didn't see movement, and repeated this type of condition. You really don't
want your DVR to be set to detect motion in an area that has a lot of motion
unless you have some overpowering need to do so - it creates massive files
with (probably) no useful data. Not only that, if you have a real incident
it will be buried SOMEWHERE in all those files and you'll spend a lot of
time trying to find it. My suggestion is to use motion detection sparingly
and wisely and tie it to scheduled recording.

8. Now that your DVR has been contacted by the client software, you can see
video. If video does not immediately appear, do the following:

Click LIVE (see below).

Click the device name you created, which will be under SYSTEM, in the
upper left hand corner of the screen (see below).

Note in the above image that I have renamed my camera channels so I don't
forget where they are located, and the circular icons next to the names
indicate camera status. Note the OUTSIDE camera, which was not set up at the
time I created this procedure so that channel is blank and next to it is a
"blued" status icon. These icons represent different conditions - consult
your manual or the client software help file for more information.

9. Your screen will look similar to the figure below.

NOTE: Due to the wide variety of ISPs, LAN configurations and routers, it is
impossible for us to address every possible problem you may encounter when
performing remote connection operations. Internet domain servers may change
software that requires a modification on your end, or your local (regional) ISP
may have a peculiarity that causes connection difficulties. If you run into a
problem you can't figure out, you can contact our technical support group (www.cctvsupportsite.com)
for help, or you may want to contact a service in your area that specializes in
network setups, since they will be familiar with any unique regional factors
that we don't know about.